Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-19

Burroughs from Iownshend, and W. II.
Converse and wife from Maiden, Mass.
Dummeruton.
The farm recently sold by Dea. Leroy
Wilder to Mr. II. y. f. Marshall, the North
field granite worker has been in the pos
session of the Wilder family for three gen
erations or during the period of nearly 93
years. The original farm contained 100
acres and was No. 20 Of the town lots
Leicester GrosvcnOr of Windsor. Mass
an original proprietor, sold the lot to Eph-
RAIN Rice Of DummerStOn for $50 (S2OOD,
Sept 10, l1S3. 1t was decided by Mr. Rice
To his son, Ezekiel Rice, For aud in Con
sderation Of the Love, good viii and Alice
ton which have and do bear towards my
loving son, March 10, 1856. Ezekiel Rice
added, 10y purchase TO the farm, parts Of
lots - and IL He sold 10 acres in the
west part of lot 10 10 Andrew Willard, and
the remaining - acres, with what land he
owned in lots - and -, were sold by him
to Col. Jonathan Houghton of Newfane,
Mar lG, 1872, for e2GO From Col. Hough-
ton the farm came into the possession of
lothian Houghton, probably his son, who
sold the same to Henry Willard. Feb. -,
1874, for $3.50 who disposed of it TO Joshua
Wilder Of Gerry, now Phillipston, Mass,
Nov. q, 1894, for the same price he paid
to lloughtOn. The farm then contained all
of lot 10, except - acres owned by Andrew
Willard, who may have been the father of
Henry, and portions of lot - and -. Mr.
Wilder moved into town the following year,
bringing a family of nine children, which
was soon increased to ten. The house was
simply frame loosely boarded up, having
only one room. The cracks between the
boards were wide enough to stick your fin
gers through, and the cellar contained mil
| lions Of fees. On Feb. /, 1908, when the
state raised "A state prison tax Of one cent
on an acre of all the land in Vermont, Mr.
/ Wilder owned the whole of lot &C. together
with 40 acres in - and 20 acres in lot 20,
making a total Of 2l0 acres, one-half of
| which he sold the same year, Dec 81, to
his son, Dea Dan Wilder, for $4,000, includ-
| ing the tanning business, etc, ON the place.
GRANDPA Josh, as he was called by the
townspeople, died in 1919, aged almost 30
years. At the age of IS years he built IA
covered wagon in which the representatives
| of four generations rode ON Sabbath morn
| ing, vending their way TO church. 81 miles
distant from home. Mr. Wilder was IA tan
ner by trade, and also performed other me
! Chanical labor. He tanned, among other
things, sheep pelts with the wool on, which
were called "sheepalos' by some of the old
folks in town. In early times he was ac-
custOmed to wear jacket made from a
'sheepalo,' having the wool side next to
his body. He wore the old style suit, shoes
long stockings and short breeches and for
a protection Of his clothing while at work
he wore Overalls made of leather. He
united with the Congregational church in
Dummerston at the age of 81 years. His
son, Deacon Dan, lived TO "a great age, and
L e ~
Der of acres was increased to 260 At tn,
present time the farm contains, according
TO a recent survey, AGO acres The tillag,
land is under "A good state of cultivation
but Mr.. Marshalls main object in purchas
ing the farm was to get possession Of a val
liable granite quarry on the place. Dea
Leroy Wilder is ~ years of age and ha
done much hard work ON the old homestead
When he was first married he built small
house east Of where the old folks lived, il
? which he resided many years. He after
wards built large and convenient two-stor,
house. the present dwelling ON the farm
which will be his home till next April Tn
deacon has done considerable hard work tn
past season for a man Of his years. AL
though his natural force is much abated, h
is something of a gymnast, according to hi
own story. While mending fence ON
steep side-hill in the early part Of the sea
son, he stumbled and came near falling
TO save himself he caught hold OF IA sma
sapling which snapped asunder instantly
and he went rolling down the hill hoop fash
ion with head and heels alternating in tn
/ air, making three complete somersauts be
fore he brought up in brush heap at tn
> foot of the hill, II good deal frightened bu
not much hurt.